CORONER’S CRITICISM

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1928, Page 3

CORONER’S CRITICISM

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. March 9. An inquest into the death ol the shunter. Horace Gordon Crose, who died after receiving injuries in the new Midleton shunting yards, became iu fact an inquiry by the Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, into the safety or otherwise of the methods of shunting followed in the yards. Ever since the Middleton yards have been opened for Work, tlier have been reports that shunters did not like them, considering them dangerous. The main feature ot the yards, which is new in New Zealand, is a raised portion ol bump, which is used tor the running of lines of trucks down inclined tracks, when making or breaking up trains. At tiie yards, which were opened a few months ago. all the goods trains of Christchurch are made up. Evidence was given that Grose, in attempting to break trucks moving at six miles an hour, in broad daylight. jumped on a brake, but failed to catch the handrail on the truck because it was covered by a tarpaulin. Samuel Ernest Fay, operating equipment assistant, of the New Zealand Railways, who designed the yards, was cross-examined at length as to the safety of the braking system and the safey of the human method ot shunti "gFay said it would not be possible to improve on the safety of ihe braking system, except at a great cost. In England, side brakes were used, and human shunting yards were considered safe. He agreed that the handrails ought not to he covered, but he was unable to suggest a means by which they could be left free. On this point the Coroner disagreed with witness, declaring that it could be done, and must he done. 'The Coroner also stated that ho had seen trucks in the yards travelling uncontrolled at 12 to 18 miles hourly. Evidence ol some- witnesses was that the speed did not exceed 12 miles, and of others that it reached 15 miles. It was staled also that occasionally shunters found it impossible, owing to exreme danger, to stop' trucks with the front brakes travelling so fast, and that smashes had occurred in Hie yards owing to shunters letting them go. ’These smashes had been the subject of a circular of instruction lroni the Department. The Coroner found that Grose met his death through being run over by a Iruek. He added to his finding the following: ’’That the safety of shunters makes it necessary that tarpaulins on trucks shall be so tied as to leave the handrail free in order that it can be. used for the purpose for which it is intended—to safeguard human life, i and that in the opinion of the Coroner the system of shunting at Middleton Yards should he improved so that reasonable means of control can he used without endangering human life.”